The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that it will close portions of city streets in Pawtucket beginning on Monday, May 16, 2011 as part of the Pawtucket River Bridge Replacement Project. These closures will remain in effect until Spring 2012.
As part of the contract to replace the Pawtucket River Bridge, RIDOT is rehabilitating other bridges near the I-95 corridor. The first of these involve two bridges carrying city streets over I-95. Garden Street, which is a one-way road southbound, will be closed completely. The northbound half of the nearby George Street Bridge will be closed and only southbound traffic will be allowed to pass.
Partly due to the number of one-way streets in the area, the detour routes require several turns to get around closed areas. These new closures also will affect established detours that have been in place since this past winter. Taft Street and Pleasant Street at the I-95 overpass will remain closed until mid-2013.
RIDOT will post turn-by-turn directions and detour maps for all affected roads on its website at www.dot.ri.gov. Signed detours will be established. Access to local businesses will be maintained.
“In terms of traffic disruptions for the City, we are entering into one of the more challenging phases of the project,” RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. “The Department urges motorists to familiarize themselves with the detour routes and allow additional time to reach their destination.”
Replacement of the Pawtucket River Bridge is a high priority for the Department. Through an $81 million contract with S&R Corporation/Pihl., Inc., RIDOT will replace the Pawtucket River Bridge. The bridge is composed of two structures that carry I-95 over the Seekonk River.
The project is scheduled for completion in Summer 2013. Enough construction should be completed by late Spring 2012 to enable the Department to shift traffic to new structures and eliminate the bridge’s 18-ton weight limit. RIDOT has an early incentive clause with its contractor, with a maximum bonus of $4.5 million, which could result in the weight limit being lifted even sooner. All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change.
Motorists with questions can contact RIDOT’s Customer Service office at 401-222-2450 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional information will be available on RIDOT’s website (www.dot.ri.gov) and its social media sites on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blogger.
Detour Information
Garden Street
Garden Street Southbound: Turn right on Cedar Street and then turn left onto Main Street. Cross over the highway, take the first left onto Pearl Street and follow to return to Garden Street.
George Street
George Street Northbound: Turn left onto Grace Street and then turn right onto Pine Street. Follow Pine Street over the highway and take a right onto Church Street. Follow Church Street to reach Park Place (George Street becomes Park Place north of the highway).
Pleasant Street
Pleasant Street Northbound: Turn left onto Grace Street. Make a quick left onto George Street and a quick right to continue along Grace Street. Take the next right onto Pine Street. After crossing over the highway, take a right onto Church Street. Turn right onto Park Place and take an immediate left onto East Avenue Extension. Take the next right to return to Pleasant Street.
Pleasant Street Southbound: Turn left onto Jenks Way, and then turn left onto Roosevelt Avenue. Turn left onto Main Street and then take the first right onto High Street. At the intersection with Exchange Street, turn left. Follow Exchange Street (which becomes Goff Avenue) and take a left onto Dexter Street. Follow Dexter Street (which becomes Park Place West, then Park Place, then George Street), pass over I-95, turn left onto Grace Street and follow to the intersection with Pleasant Street.
Taft Street
Taft Street Northbound: Turn left on Tower Street and then turn right on East Avenue. Immediately after turning onto East Avenue, bear left at the split onto George Street. Turn left onto Grace Street and then take the next right onto Pine Street. After crossing over the highway, take a right onto Church Street. Turn right onto Park Place and take an immediate left onto East Avenue Extension. Turn right onto Pleasant Street and take the next left onto Jenks Way to return to Taft Street.
Taft Street Southbound: Turn right onto Jenks Way, and then turn right onto Pleasant Street (which becomes East Avenue, and then High Street). At the intersection with Exchange Street, turn left. Follow Exchange Street (which becomes Goff Avenue) and take a left onto Dexter Street. Follow Dexter Street (which becomes Park Place West, then Park Place, then George Street), pass over I-95, and turn left onto Grace Street. Turn right onto Pleasant Street and then turn left onto Spencer Street and follow to intersection with Taft Street.
Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362 x4007